First Working Hunter!

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cielo2010

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I have my first (novice) working hunter show coming up with my youngster. Pretty confident on the dress code and tack, however wonder is anyone can run me through how things work. I know you are expected to jump a rustic course one by one, then do a show. Will the novice class be a group show or individual? Will the judge tell the competitors what to do in the show or is it made up on the spot sort of thing? Mainly worried I'll do the wrong thing, lol, do the judges usually give a lot of direction? Thanks!
 
I've done a few working hunters but i'm no expert but here's what I know ...

Usually you do the course of jumps first and then you go back in with everyone and all walk, trot and canter around as a group. Then the judge will ask you to line up and pull you out one by one and ask you all the usual questions, age of horse, what you do with them ect. Usually they will ask for a walk trot and canter on both reins and if you feel confident a gallop up one of the long sides.

I've done working hunters where you only go back in to do the ridden part if you jump clear on the course but I've also done one where they asked everyone to come in and do the ridden show despite knocking a jump down :)
 
Oh sorry the walk trot and canter and optional gallop is separate from the group. You just do your show and go and line back up :) Remember to ride your horse more forward at the jumps so it mimics being out on a hunt appose to riding a collected show jumping round.

We won the novice working hunter championship last year so it's up to the open for us .... not sure I'm quite ready for that lol!
 
Trakehner92 said:
I've done working hunters where you only go back in to do the ridden part if you jump clear on the course but I've also done one where they asked everyone to come in and do the ridden show despite knocking a jump down :)
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Yes I had one where I was only one of three that went clear in a class of ten. The girl who ALWAYS won WH classes and was very popular ended up having two fences down so we guessed she would be well out of the running. However they called her back in and she won the class. Felt very deflated by it all. Its all a bit too subjective for me.
 
applecart14 said:
Yes I had one where I was only one of three that went clear in a class of ten. The girl who ALWAYS won WH classes and was very popular ended up having two fences down so we guessed she would be well out of the running. However they called her back in and she won the class. Felt very deflated by it all. Its all a bit too subjective for me.
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Yep!! So frustrating isn't it.

The exact same thing happened to me. I was the only one who went clear out of the whole class and I came 4th. The judge said it was due to my horse being eager at the fences. Anyway... We did a few more after that but this year I'm focussing on show jumping and dressage and the odd ODE.

I do enjoy the odd working hunter. As long as you have a fair judge.
 
applecart14 said:
Yes I had one where I was only one of three that went clear in a class of ten. The girl who ALWAYS won WH classes and was very popular ended up having two fences down so we guessed she would be well out of the running. However they called her back in and she won the class. Felt very deflated by it all. Its all a bit too subjective for me.
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That shouldn't happen, as Phase 1 should always take precedence over phase two. Here's an amateur scoring system for reference:

Marking
PHASE ONE
Jumping: 50
Style & Manners while Jumping: 20

PHASE TWO
Manners: 10
Conformation, Type & Freedom of Action: 20
TOTAL: 100

PENALTIES – PHASE ONE
Jumping Knock Down: 10
First Refusal: 15
Second Refusal: 20
Third Refusal: Elimination

Fall of pony/horse or rider in any phase Elimination
If the total in phase one is a minus score, then the score will revert to a zero score.
½ or plus or minus marks are not permitted.

Tie for Placing
23.5 In the event of a tie for placing the marks must not be altered. The Total Mark
from Phase one will take precedence, followed by the Manners Mark, then the
Conformation Mark. If there is still a tie the Judge’s decision is final.

Elimination in Phase One
23.6 A Competitor that is eliminated in Phase One will not proceed to Phase Two.
 
A horse that does not jump clear can beat ones that do even with a scoring system in place, it may seem wrong but 2 fences down loses 20 marks out of the 50 available they could still get 20 for style so goes into phase 2 with a score of 50, a horse that jumped clear with poor style may go into phase 2 with a score only slightly ahead, if the horse with 2 fences down then gets full, or nearly full, marks and the clear ones get low scores then they will end up lower down the line, it does ensure that a horse with poor confo and bad manners will not beat a well schooled, correctly put together horse that rubs a pole or two, so ultimately a horse does need to be a proper show horse to do well, just being a good jumper with not be enough to win under most judges.
 
Don't worry about the going clear thing just go and enjoy it! :) Practice a little show at home so you know what you're doing and have a fabulous time!
 
applecart14 said:
Yes I had one where I was only one of three that went clear in a class of ten. The girl who ALWAYS won WH classes and was very popular ended up having two fences down so we guessed she would be well out of the running. However they called her back in and she won the class. Felt very deflated by it all. Its all a bit too subjective for me.
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That absolutely should not have happened!

Affiliated classes have scoresheets which make it impossible for non clears to be placed over clears, you lose 10 points out of 50 for having a fence down and then there is a style and manners score for the jumping round, out of 20. The other possible 30 marks out of 100 are for confo (20) and way of going. The jumping round clearly outweighs the showing round. Unfortunately unaffiliated classes do their own thing but you really should have complained to the Show Secretary
 
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